Japan hit by 6.5 quake, third in three days; no tsunami warning issued

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Japan experienced yet another strong earthquake on Wednesday, marking the third straight day of tremors in the country. The latest quake came just days after a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami warning.

According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), Wednesday’s earthquake struck Japan’s Hokkaido region with a magnitude of 6.5 at a depth of 57 km. Japan’s own seismic scale, however, measured it at 5.9 with a depth of 30 km. No tsunami threat has been issued.

The tremor follows a 7.5-magnitude quake on Monday that injured 51 people after hitting the coast of the northern Aomori region. That quake damaged roads, shattered windows and generated tsunami waves up to 70 cm high.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had issued a rare special advisory early Tuesday, warning that another powerful earthquake could strike within the week.

“Due to the occurrence of this earthquake, it is believed that the relative likelihood of a new large-scale earthquake has increased compared to normal times,” the JMA said, only the second time it has ever issued such a warning.